At Gandhinagar, the capital of Gujarat, stands the original Swaminarayan Akshardham, a grand temple complex inaugurated in 1992 by the BAPS Swaminarayan organisation. Built of intricately carved pink sandstone and crowned with soaring domes, it is dedicated to Bhagwan Swaminarayan, whose gilded image is enshrined within, surrounded by sculptures depicting the ideals of devotion, virtue, and service.
Set amid landscaped gardens with exhibitions on the values and heritage of Sanatana Dharma, Akshardham Gandhinagar was the first of the great Akshardham temples and remains among the most visited monuments of Gujarat. It stands as a magnificent centre of Swaminarayan devotion and a celebration of India's cultural and spiritual heritage.
